Hot Fuzz (2007)

Simon Pegg stars as Police Sergeant Nicholas Angel in Hot Fuzz. Released from his position with the Metropolitan Police Force for overachieving and making his fellow officers look bad, Nicholas Angel is relocated to the quiet village of Sanford and promoted to the position of Sergeant for his troubles. Sergeant Angel, being the high strung officer he is, takes a bit to settle into his new surroundings. Helped by PC Danny Butterman (played by Pegg's Shaun Of The Dead cohort, Nick Frost), he attempts to acclimate to his new surroundings. When suspicious "accidents" keep occurring around town, Sergeant Angel's cop instincts are kicked into overdrive, whereupon he stumbles onto a plot to keep the village's title of "Best Place To Live." Will Sergeant Angel live to unravel the mystery? Can PC Butterman become the officer he's always watched on film? And does the goose ever get back to its owner? If you haven't seen this film, you'll never know, and really, do yourself the favor and watch this.

Writers Edgar Wright (also the director) and Simon Pegg got it right with this film. The comedy is so tight, I gave myself a bruise from slapping my knee so hard. This was a delightful return to slapstick and farce like I hadn't seen in years! Working with the same people can do wonders for a project, as was beautifully exemplified with this film. Pegg and Frost worked so well off of each other to keep the timing and delivery of the numerous jokes and physical comedy absolutely perfect. And Edgar Wright certainly knew his leads quite well and put them through their paces perfectly. Also, the movie is laden with cameos from top notch British talent, which is a great testament to Wright and Pegg. When you got something good, everyone wants a piece of it.

This movie is a testament to pacing! God bless the comedic timing and delivery that was intrinsic to this film. The fast, gritty, raunchy-blues-music-laced scene cuts only help to keep the pace at lightning speed. Plus, those cuts were a GREAT way to keep the audience riveted to the screen. I know it worked on me, just like Pavlov's bell. Plus, they nailed the riffs on action/cop films perfectly from top to bottom.

Honestly, I was laughing out loud so much during this film. It was so sharp! I've been inundated with this recent trend of Hollywood comedic stylings (see Superbad, Wedding Crashers, and 40 Year Old Virgin to see what I'm talking about; all good comedies, but very different from this film), that this was such a wonderful return to classic comedy devices, and it was absolutely refreshing to see. The deadpan delivery of Pegg, the funnyman jokes of Frost, the classical farce timing of a Thorton Wilder play! It was so enjoyable to watch. These boys got me wanting more, and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next.